Amy Tinkler still awaiting to hear from British Gymnastics EIGHT MONTHS after submitting a complaint

Olympic medallist Amy Tinkler has revealed she submitted a formal complaint to British Gymnastics eight months ago – but it has still not been resolved.

Tinkler, 20, won a bronze medal on the floor at Rio 2016 at the age of 16 but retired from gymnastics in January.

The Durham athlete has now admitted that her ‘experiences’ in the sport led to her decision to quit but she is still waiting for an outcome to her complaint.

Ex-British gymnast Amy Tinkler says she is still awaiting feedback after making a complaint

Tinkler says she retired from the sport in January as a result of her negative experiences 

The 20-year-old won Olympic bronze at the 2016 Rio Games in the women’s floor

In a personal statement on social media, Tinkler did not go into the details of her grievance but Sportsmail understands it relates to abuse by coaches, similar to the complaints made by a number of female gymnasts last week.

British Gymnastics have already launched an independent inquiry into allegations of abuse of athletes but these remarks by a current Olympic medallist heap further pressure on chief executive Jane Allen, who has faced calls to quit.

Tinkler said: ‘I’m heart broken by the stories that have been told over the past week.

‘I’m so proud of my fellow gymnasts who have shared their stories, I know how hard it is, and your bravery has been a shining light and inspiration in dark and troubling times for the sport we love.

‘I submitted a formal complaint to British Gymnastics in December 2019. It was an account of my experiences as a club and elite gymnast, and the experiences I shared were the reason for my retirement in January, not a physical injury as was suggested by some at the time. 

‘My complaint was submitted in accordance with the British Gymnastics complaints policy by a legal team from Irwin Mitchell LLP. After 8-months, I’m no closer to having any feedback or outcome.

‘It took a lot of support and counselling to build up the courage to tell my story. I would like to thank Scott and the team at South Essex Gymnastics Club for everything they did for me, without their help I would never have had the strength to begin this journey. I hope someone now listens to us.’

Tinkler took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to make a statement about her own situation

The Durham-born athlete commended fellow gymnasts about speaking about their ordeals

Tinkler trained at South Durham before joining South Essex in 2016 after the Rio Olympics. She became only the third British woman to win an individual gymnastics medal when she claimed bronze four years ago.

Following her statement, British Gymnastics said: ‘British Gymnastics received formal notification of a complaint from Amy Tinkler in December 2019 and she provided full details of this complaint to us on 10th March 2020 which then allowed the investigation to proceed.

‘It is at an advanced stage and we have kept Amy Tinkler fully informed and provided her with the appropriate support and we will continue to do so. We can make no further comment at this stage in the process.’

A number of athletes (such as Catherine Lyons, pictured) have come forward with claims they were abused at the hands of British Gymnastics

Lyons says she had been beaten with a stick and was shut in a cupboard after crying

Ex-Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ruby Harrold has also spoken out